Explore the vast range of titles available.

Chronic neuropathic pain (CNP) is a debilitating complication of herpes zoster (HZ) with significant impact on quality of life. This study aimed to investigate the association between excitatory amino acid transporter 2 (EAAT-2) expression and plasma glutamate concentrations in HZ patients with CNP. This study was conducted with 102 consecutive patients diagnosed with HZ. Participants were divided into two groups: CNP ( n  = 51) and acute pain (ACP, n  = 51). Pain severity was assessed using the Numerical Rating Scale. Blood samples were collected for genotype analysis, mRNA and protein extraction, and plasma glutamate measurement. EAAT-2 DNA genotyping was analyzed by polymerase chain reaction (PCR); EAAT-2 mRNA expression was analyzed by quantitative real-time PCR; EAAT-2 protein and glutamate levels were analyzed by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. The EAAT-2 DNA showed no significant difference in CNP and ACP patients. CNP patients exhibited lower EAAT-2 mRNA and protein levels compared to ACP patients. However, plasma glutamate levels were significantly elevated in the CNP patients. A correlation was observed between EAAT-2 protein concentration and plasma glutamate levels in the CNP group. This study demonstrates EAAT-2 mRNA downregulation, reduced EAAT-2 protein concentration, and elevated plasma glutamate levels play roles in CNP following HZ infection. These findings suggests that EAAT-2 may be a relevant target for further investigation in therapeutic development.

Accumulating evidence indicates that the zinc-finger transcription factor ZEB1 is predominantly expressed in the stroma of several tumours. However, the role of stromal ZEB1 in tumour progression remains unexplored. In this study, while interrogating human databases, we uncover a remarkable decrease in relapse-free survival of breast cancer patients expressing high ZEB1 levels in the stroma. Using a mouse model of breast cancer, we show that ZEB1 inactivation in stromal fibroblasts suppresses tumour initiation, progression and metastasis. We associate this with reduced extracellular matrix remodeling, immune cell infiltration and decreased angiogenesis. ZEB1 deletion in stromal fibroblasts increases acetylation, expression and recruitment of p53 to FGF2/7 , VEGF and IL6 promoters, thereby reducing their production and secretion into the surrounding stroma. Importantly, p53 ablation in ZEB1 stroma-deleted mammary tumours sufficiently recovers the impaired cancer growth and progression. Our findings identify the ZEB1/p53 axis as a stroma-specific signaling pathway that promotes mammary epithelial tumours. In epithelial cells Zeb1 is involved in the epithelial to mesenchymal transition. In this study, the authors show in a mouse model of breast cancer, that Zeb1 expression in stromal cells is required for tumour formation and metastasis.

In this study, seventeen isobavachalcone (IBC) derivatives (1-17) were synthesised, and evaluated for their cytotoxic activity against three human lung cancer cell lines. Among these derivatives, compound 16 displayed the most potent cytotoxic activity against H1975 and A549 cells, with IC50 values of 4.35 and 14.21 μM, respectively. Compared with IBC, compound 16 exhibited up to 4.11-fold enhancement of cytotoxic activity on human non-small cell lung cancer H1975 cells. In addition, we found that compound 16 suppressed H1975 cells via inducing apoptosis and necroptosis. The initial mechanism of compound 16 induced cell death in H1975 cells involves the increasing of Bax/Bcl-2 ratio and Cyt C protein level, down-regulating of Akt protein level, and cleaving caspase-9 and -3 induced apoptosis; the up-regulation of RIP3, p-RIP3, MLKL, and p-MLKL levels induced necroptosis. Moreover, compound 16 also caused mitochondrial dysfunction, thereby decreasing cellular ATP levels, and resulting in excessive reactive oxygen species (ROS) accumulation.

This study focuses on the immunoregulatory effects of chicken TRIM25 on the replication of subgroup A of avian leukosis virus (ALV-A) and the MDA5-mediated type I interferon response. The ALV-A-SDAU09C1 strain was inoculated into DF1 cells and 1-day-old SPF chickens, and the expression of TRIM25 was detected at different time points after inoculation. A recombinant overexpression plasmid containing the chicken TRIM25 gene (TRIM25-GFP) was constructed and transfected into DF1 cells to analyse the effects of the overexpression of chicken TRIM25 on the replication of ALV-A and the expression of MDA5, MAVS and IFN-β. A small interfering RNA targeting chicken TRIM25 (TRIM25-siRNA) was prepared and transfected into DF1 cells to assess the effects of the knockdown of chicken TRIM25 on the replication of ALV-A and the expression of MDA5, MAVS and IFN-β. The results showed that chicken TRIM25 was significantly upregulated at all time points both in ALV-A-infected cells and in ALV-A-infected chickens. Overexpression of chicken TRIM25 in DF1 cells dramatically decreased the antigenic titres of ALV-A in the cell supernatant and upregulated the relative expression of MDA5, MAVS and IFN-β induced by ALV-A or by poly(I:C); in contrast, knockdown of chicken TRIM25 significantly increased the antigenic titres of ALV-A and downregulated the relative expression of MDA5, MAVS and IFN-β. It can be concluded that chicken TRIM25 can inhibit the replication of ALV-A and upregulate the MDA5 receptor-mediated type I interferon response in chickens. This study can help improve the understanding of the antiviral activities of chicken TRIM25 and enrich the knowledge of antiviral responses in chickens.

Recent studies suggest that extracellular cGAMP can be taken up by macrophages to engage STING through several mechanisms. Our work demonstrates that connexin-dependent communication between epithelial cells and macrophages plays a significant role in the amplification of antiviral responses mediated by cGAMP and suggests that pharmacological strategies aimed at modulating connexins may have therapeutic applications to control antiviral responses in humans. Activation of cyclic GMP-AMP (cGAMP) synthase (cGAS) plays a critical role in antiviral responses to many DNA viruses. Sensing of cytosolic DNA by cGAS results in synthesis of the endogenous second messenger cGAMP that activates stimulator of interferon genes (STING) in infected cells. Critically, cGAMP can also propagate antiviral responses to uninfected cells through intercellular transfer, although the modalities of this transfer between epithelial and immune cells remain poorly defined. We demonstrate here that cGAMP-producing epithelial cells can transactivate STING in cocultured macrophages through direct cGAMP transfer. cGAMP transfer was reliant upon connexin expression by epithelial cells and pharmacological inhibition of connexins blunted STING -dependent transactivation of the macrophage compartment. Macrophage transactivation by cGAMP contributed to a positive-feedback loop amplifying antiviral responses, significantly protecting uninfected epithelial cells against viral infection. Collectively, our findings constitute the first direct evidence of a connexin-dependent cGAMP transfer to macrophages by epithelial cells, to amplify antiviral responses. IMPORTANCE Recent studies suggest that extracellular cGAMP can be taken up by macrophages to engage STING through several mechanisms. Our work demonstrates that connexin-dependent communication between epithelial cells and macrophages plays a significant role in the amplification of antiviral responses mediated by cGAMP and suggests that pharmacological strategies aimed at modulating connexins may have therapeutic applications to control antiviral responses in humans.

A new series of mollugin-1,2,3-triazole derivatives were synthesized using a copper(I)-catalyzed Huisgen 1,3-dipolar cycloaddition reaction of corresponding O-propargylated mollugin with aryl azides. All the compounds were evaluated for their cytotoxicity on five human cancer cell lines (HL-60, A549, SMMC-7721, SW480, and MCF-7) using MTS assays. Among the synthesized series, most of them showed cytotoxicity and most of all, compounds 14 and 17 exhibited significant cytotoxicity of all five cancer cell lines.

Standardized treatment guidelines and effective drugs are not available for human triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC). Many efforts have recently been exerted to investigate the efficacy of natural compounds as anticancer agents owing to their low toxicity. However, no study has examined the effects of isobavachalcone (IBC) on the programmed cell death (PCD) of human triple-negative breast MDA-MB-231 cancer cells. In this study, IBC substantially inhibited the proliferation of MDA-MB-231 cells in concentration- and time-dependent manners. In addition, we found that IBC induced multiple cell death processes, such as apoptosis, necroptosis, and autophagy in MDA-MB-231 cells. The initial mechanism of IBC-mediated cell death in MDA-MB-231 cells involves the downregulation of Akt and p-Akt-473, an increase in the Bax/Bcl-2 ratio, and cleaved caspases-3 induced apoptosis; the upregulation of RIP3, p-RIP3 and MLKL induced necroptosis; as well as a simultaneous increase in LC3-II/I ratio induced autophagy. In addition, we observed that IBC induced mitochondrial dysfunction, thereby decreasing cellular ATP levels and increasing reactive oxygen species accumulation to induce PCD. These results suggest that IBC is a promising lead compound with anti-TNBC activity.

Measles virus (MeV) is a highly contagious virus that still causes annual epidemics in developing countries despite the availability of a safe and effective vaccine. Additionally, importation from endemic countries causes frequent outbreaks in countries where it has been eliminated. The M protein of MeV plays a key role in virus assembly and cytopathogenesis; interestingly, M is localised in nucleus, cytoplasm and membranes of infected cells. We have used transient expression of M in transfected cells and in-cell transcription assays to show that only some MeV M localizes to the nucleus, in addition to cell membranes and the cytoplasm as previously described, and can inhibit cellular transcription via binding to nuclear factors. Additionally, MeV M was able to inhibit in vitro transcription in a dose-dependent manner. Importantly, a proportion of M is also localized to nucleus of MeV infected cells at early times in infection, correlating with inhibition of cellular transcription. Our data show, for the first time, that MeV M may play a role early in infection by inhibiting host cell transcription.

Anti-interferon-γ autoantibodies (AIGAs) immunodeficiency syndrome is an emerging adult-onset immunodeficiency causing opportunistic infections. However, its comprehensive immune landscape remains elusive. This study presents the first single-cell RNA sequencing (scRNA-seq) analysis of AIGAs immunodeficiency syndrome, aiming to delineate its pathogenic mechanisms. We performed scRNA-seq on peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) from 8 AIGAs immunodeficiency syndrome patients (4 infective, 4 stable phase) and 3 healthy controls. Findings were validated by flow cytometry in an expanded cohort (15 patients vs. 10 controls). Single-cell RNA sequencing of PBMCs from patients with AIGAs immunodeficiency syndrome identified a comprehensive immune subset profile, including effector memory CD4 T cells, naive CD4 T cells, regulatory T cells, GNLY CD8 Tem, GZMK CD8 Tem, naive CD8 T cells, naive B cells, memory B cells, plasma cells, ISG atypical B cells, monocytes, and NKT cells. ScRNA-seq analysis revealed a significantly higher proportion of Th1 cells (16.62% vs. 6.94% in controls) and ISG B cells (2.95% vs. 0.53%), alongside a lower proportion of plasma cells (9.30% vs. 17.79%) and memory B cells (9.54% vs. 27.35%). Flow cytometry consistently confirmed the increase in Th1 cells (21.84% [14.87-27.57] vs. 11.96% [7.19-15.74]) and decreases in marginal zone B cells (2.87% [1.71-4.45] vs. 8.60% [6.77-15.65]), memory B cells (13.85% [5.72-20.23] vs. 22.96% [16.39-33.83]), and class-switched B cells (6.11% [2.39-9.10] vs. 10.18% [5.35-15.77]). Transcriptome analysis demonstrated upregulated expression of interferon-response and HLA genes (e.g., HLA-DQB1, HLA-DQA1, HLA-DRB1), whereas IRF1 was downregulated across all subsets; functional enrichment analyses further highlighted significant activation in IFN signaling and B cell activation pathways. CellChat and pseudotime analyses indicated that CD4 Tem and CD14 monocytes drive sustained Th1 inflammation and monocyte hyperactivation through enhanced pro-inflammatory and antigen-presenting interactions, with T-cell differentiation skewed toward terminal effectors and B-cell development disrupted by ISG B cell emergence, premature plasma cell formation, and IGLC3-biased class switching, collectively delineating the interferon-mediated immunopathology of AIGAs immunodeficiency syndrome. In summary, this first single-cell atlas maps AIGAs immunodeficiency syndrome as a Th1-skewed, IFN-γ-driven disorder sustained by CD4 Tem-CD14 monocyte crosstalk. It combines T-cell activation, expanded Th1 and ISG B cells, and loss of memory/plasma B cells to drive autoantibody generation. Skewed T- and B-cell trajectories and polygenic up-regulation of interferon/HLA genes provide a clear mechanistic rationale for targeted therapy.

Introduction of and invasion by alien plant pathogens represents the main cause of emerging infectious diseases affecting domesticated and wild plant species worldwide. The trade in living plants is the most common pathway of introduction. Many of the alien tree pathogens recently introduced into Europe were not previously included on any quarantine lists. To help determine the potential risk of pest introduction through trading of ornamental plants, a sentinel nursery was established in Beijing, China in 2008. The sentinel nursery planting included four of the most common ornamental woody species shipped to Europe including Ilex cornuta var. fortunae, Zelkova schneideriana, Fraxinus chinensis and Buxus microphylla. Symptoms developing on these species within the sentinel nursery were detected in 2013 and consisted of necrotic spots on leaves, canker and stem necrosis, shoot blight and shoot necrosis. Fungi associated with the trees and their symptoms included Alternaria alternata detected from all hosts; Diaporthe liquidambaris and Diaporthe capsici from bark and leaf necrosis of Zelkova schneideriana; Botryosphaeria dothidea and Nothophoma quercina from stem cankers on Fraxinus chinensis and leaf necrosis on Ilex cornuta; and Pseudonectria foliicola from leaf necrosis on Buxus microphylla. Next generation sequencing analysis from asymptomatic tissues detected eighteen OTU's at species level among which some taxa had not been previously recorded in Europe. These results clearly demonstrate that looking at trees of internationally traded species in the region of origin can reveal the presence of potentially harmful organisms of major forestry, landscape or crop trees. Results of this study also provide an indication as to how some disease agents can be introduced using pathways other than the co-generic hosts. Hence, sentinel nurseries represent one potential mechanism to address the current lack of knowledge about pests in the countries from where live plants are shipped and the threats they represent to native flora and crops in importing countries.